Folding platform



Sept. 25, 1962 J. w. "PASTORIUS FOLDING PLATFORM Filed NOV. 50,, 1.960-

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 w mi a il s INVENTOR JAMES W. PASTORIUS AT TYS Sept. 25, 1962 J. w. PASTORiUS 3,055,477

FOLDING PLATFORM Filed Nov. 30, 1960 3 SheetsSheet 2 sm-on- :INV JAMES w. PASTQRIUS ATTYS P 1962 PASTO-RI-USS E'QEDING PLATFORM Sheets-Sheet 3.

Filed Nov. 30 19.60

l ILII IILIIIL AT T vs.

United States. Patent Ofiice 3,055,477 Patented Sept. 25, 1962 3,055,477 FOLDING PLATFORM James W. Pastorius, 335 Main St., Cementon, Pa. Filed Nov. 30, 1960, Ser. N 72,740 12 Claims. (Cl. 193-4) The present invention relates generally to portable folding platforms and more specifically to a novel folding platform adapted for use in conjunction with the discharge end of a mobile conveyor to raise workers handling conveyed materials to a height at which they may more easily transfer the materials onto high-level stacks.

A first object of the invention is to provide a folding platform which in an open position extends laterally outwardly from both sides of the discharged end of a mobile conveyor and which in a closed position folds substantially into space beneath a mobile conveyor end.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding platform which in a closed position is folded into the space beneath a mobile conveyor end in such a manner as to permit substantially unhindered access to the conveyor end from any direction and allow normal working activity in the area occupied by the platform when in an open position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding platform which may be permanently attached to, and partially supported by, the discharge end of a portable conveyor so that it will be at all times ready and easily set up for use.

An additional object is to provide a folding platform partially supported by a mobile conveyor and additionally supported by wheels or other self-contained means permitting corresponding and non-interfering travel of the folded platform with the conveyor end during relocation of the conveyor.

Another object is to provide a folding platform which is pivotally mounted to a mobile conveyor in such a manner that during periods of non-use it may be raised and solely supported in the folded position by the conveyor thus increasing the maneuvrability of the conveyor.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a folding platform of the type described which may be easily and .quickly folded or unfolded by 'one man, thus permitting intermittent use of the device for stacking material at a high level. The invention briefly includes a U-shaped frame member pivotally supported along the bottom of the U by a conveyor base member such that the U-member open end extends in the direction of conveyor travel. This member may be rotated in a vertical plane and extends to a position approximately beneath the end of a troughshaped slide attached to the end of the conveyor. Across the open end of the U-member is a bracing member from which axle supporting members, axle, and wheels extend downwardly. Hingedly mounted along eachside of the U-member and extending outwardly therefrom are rec- 'tangul'ar shaped decked inner platform frames. The outer edges of these platform frames are hingedly attached to legged supporting members and are eccentrically hingedly connected to outer decked platform frames each having supporting legs along the edge opposite the hinged edge. Thus there is a sectional platform extending perpendicularly out from each side of the conveyor end of appropriate height to allow workers standing thereon to transfer heavy items from the conveyor and stack them at high levels more efficiently than otherwise possible. The slide onto which the items are discharged has a specially designed concave shape to aid in controlling conveyor flow.

To fold the platform the inner platform frames are rotated upward, and the outer frames downward, until the inner and outer frames are in parallel contact with the legged supporting members. The parallel frames are then rotated inward until they rest on inclined supports located on the bracing member. The outer legs fold out of the way under the U-frame. The entire device may be lifted back up against the conveyor by use of a chain or other lifting means, the platform rotating on the U-member pivot.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed discussion of an embodiment thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of -a folding platform in accordance with the invention indicating a platform attached to a portable conveyor base member in use in an unfolded position;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a platform in an unfolded position showing also the folded platform position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of an unfolded platform taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of the central supporting component of a platform taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the inner and outer platform hinged connection;

FIG. 6 is a view partly in section along the line -6--6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a leg hinge-member with attached legs; a

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8--8 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a View as in FIG. 8 showing the platform in a partly folded position; and

- FIG. 10 is a view as in FIG. 8 showing the platform frames in a fully folded parallel position. Y

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates the in- Ivention in operation attached to a mobile conveyor 10. The conveyed materials, in this instance in bags 12, travel along the conveyor apron 14-and are-deposited 'on an adjustable contoured slide 16, the specially developed shape of which is shown in FIG. 2. Packers manually transfer the articles from the slide onto pallets for mechanical bulk handling as shown in FIG. 1. a

The invention includes a U-shaped frame member 18 constructed of cylindrical stock such as steel pipe which is hingedly mounted to a conveyor base member 20 as shown in FIGS. 1 and-3 by hinging means 22. The open end of the U-frame 18 faces in the direction of conveyor travel and extends to a position approximately beneath the end of the conveyor slide 16.

Extending across the open end of the 'U-frame near ,the mouthof the U is a main bracing member 24 which is of beam-type construction including an upper plate 26 having spaced stiffening angles 28 integrally secured to the underside thereof as indicated in section in FIG. 4. The ends of the main bracing member are attached to "hollow parallel cylindrical sleeves 30 which are slidably located along the U-frame and permanently positioned thereon by bolts 32 passing through the sleeves and U-frame. Axle supports 34 protruding beneath the main bracing member are disposed between the spaced angles 28 and extend downward providing supporting means for axles 36 on which wheels 38 are rotatably mounted. FIGS. 2 and .4 clearly show the Wheel mounting arrangement. a a

Spacing sleeves 40 and 42 are also slidably located on p the U-frame 18 on either side of the main bracing member sleeves 30. The spacing sleeves are held in place members as shown in FIG. 6.

- 3 place. :Flanged plugs 46 on the U-frame tips help secure the sleeves in addition to adding a finished appearance to the frame.

Rectangular tubular inner platform frames 48 are attached to the inner platform frame pivotal sleeves 44 by frame extensions 50 which are welded or otherwise permanently connected to the sleeves. The outer ends 52 of the inner platform frames include several hinge fingers 54 as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 6, and 9. These fingers intermesh with similar hinge fingers 56 of parallel adjoining outer platform frames 58. Leg hinge members fingers 54, 56, and in the leg hinge members 60, and

are maintained therein by set screws 66 in the leg hinge The hinge pins 64 act as pivoting means for relatively rotating the inner and outer platform frames and are located below the platform frame level to provide an eccentric hinge, the functional advantage of which will be explained with the operation of the device. Legs 68 connect the aligned portions of the leg hinge members 60 as indicated by FIGS. 6 and 7 and provide support for both inner and outer platform frames. Rigidly attached to the outer edges of the outer platform frames 58 are legs 70 of length corresponding to that of the legs 68 of the leg hinge members.

The inner and outer platform frames 48 and 58 are provided with corner angles 72 as shown in FIG. 3 which are mounting means for platform frame deck members 74.which may be sheet steel, plywood, or similar material. The deck members 74 are fastened to the corner angles 72 by fasteners 76.

Inclined ribbed supports 78 are positioned on the main bracing member upper plate 26 to provide supporting means for the folded platform frames as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. Also shown in these figures is a lifting eye '80 centrally located on the plate 26 between the supports 78. A hooked chain 82, visible in FIGS. 1 and 2, is suspended from a point beneath slide 16 of such length as to permit coaction with the lifting eye when the entire folding platform is raised a convenient predetermined height above the floor surface. A lifting handle 84 as shown in FIG. 3 is centrally secured to the main bracing member 24 to facilitate use of the chain and eye 82 and 80.

In operation the invention is hingedly attached to a conveyor as has been indicated. The wheels 38 rest on the ground or floor and the device issupported both by the wheels and by the conveyor. In the open unfolded position the legs 68 and 70 provide support under the platform frames. FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 show the unfolded position of the platform. FIG. 1 indicates a worker standing on the platform while placing conveyed materials on a pallet stack. The slide 16 is conveniently tilted to receive the conveyed material 12 as it drops from the apron 14 and place it at the workers fingertips in the same repeating position. The positioning of the materials is effected by the concave contour of the slide. The lower edge of the slide is curvedly indented as shown at 17 in FIG. 2 to facilitate handling of material by permitting a grip to be secured on the material before it has slid over the lower edge of the slide.

The unfolded platform extends as previously noted on either side of a conveyor end allowing two packers to handle materials from the platform height or a single packer to work from either side of the conveyor. The

extended width of the platform may be varied but a recommended width is one that permits use with truck trailers or railroad cars.

Referring again to FIG. 1, when the desired number of the articles have been stacked, the conveyor 10 must be moved back away from the stack to permit another pallet to be loaded. To accomplish this, the platform is folded so as to be supported solely by the wheels 38 and the conveyor base, permitting the platform to be rolled back with the conveyor. The sequence of folding the platform is best understood with reference to FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, which indicate the manner in which the inner and outer platform frames are folded against the leg hinge member 60 and legs 68 by pivoting on the eccentrically located hinge pins 64. FIG. 10 shows that the inner and outer frames fold into a compact parallel position along the legs 68.

The final folded position of the platform is shown by FIG. 2 in broken lines indicating the manner in which the folded platform frames are pivoted on the sleeves 44 and inwardly inclined to rest on the inclined supports 78. This position brings the legs 70 up under the U-frame 18 effectively removing them from the work area adjacent the conveyor end. The platform can be folded into this position by one man without appreciable effort.

With the platform in the compact folded position, the conveyor can be rolled back and the platform will roll along with it. The vehicle on which the material is being stacked can also be moved. The packers may then begin loading an empty pallet, and the lower rows are most readily stacked with the platform in the folded position. The folded platform in no way interferes with normal handling of the conveyed materials. When the stack reaches a height warranting its use, the platform is quickly and easily unfolded and placed in use to facilitate completion of the higher stack levels.

When the conveyor is to be stored, turned on a short radius, or maneuvered at close quarters, the platform can be raised to allow movement of the conveyor unaffected by the platform wheels. The platform is raised by use of the handle 84 and held in a suspended position by the chain 82 which is engaged in the lifting eye as shown in FIG. 1.

Manifestly minor changes in details of construction can be effected by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A folding platform for facilitating the stacking of materials delivered by a portable conveyor comprising a frame, means for attaching said frame to a conveyor, an inner platform member pivotally mounted on said frame and extending outwardly therefrom, legs extending from an outer edge of said inner platform member, an outer platform member extending from said outer edge of said inner platform member, hinge means interconnecting said inner and outer platform members allowing said inner and outer platform members to be folded into raised parallel juxtaposition with said legs, and means complementing said legs supporting said frame and platform members at a height above a surface permitting a man standing thereon to stack materials flowing from the conveyor Without undue effort at levels above those conveniently reached from the surface, said platform members when folded parallel being pivoted into the raised position above said frame when use of the platform is not desired.

2. In combination, a conveyor, a contoured slide mounted on said conveyor to receive conveyed materials, and a folding platform for facilitating the stacking of material delivered onto said slide by said conveyor comprising a frame, means for attaching said frame to said conveyor, an inner platform member pivotally mounted on said frame and extending outwardly therefrom, legs extending from an outer edge of said inner platform member, an outer platform member extending from said outer edge of said inner platform member, hinge means interconnecting said inner and outer platform members allowing said inner and outer platform members to be folded into raised parallel juxtaposition with said legs, and means complementing said legs supporting said frame and platform members at a height above a surface permitting a man standing thereon to stack materials flowing from said conveyor without undue effort at levels above those conveniently reached from the surface, said platform members being adapted to pivot into the raised position above said frame and beneath said slide when use of the platform is not desired.

3. A folding platform for facilitating the stacking of materials delivered by a portable conveyor comprising a frame, means for attaching said frame to a conveyor, an inner platform member pivotally mounted on said frame and extending outwardly therefrom, legs extending from an outer edge of said inner platform member, an outer platform member extending from said outer edge of said inner platform member, hinge fingers protruding from said inner and outer platform members and a leg hinge member positioned between said platform members, said hinge fingers and said leg hinge member being pivotally joined by a hinge pin eccentrically located with respect to the pivoting platform members thereby allowing said inner and outer platform members to be folded into raised parallel juxtaposition with said legs, and means complementing said legs supporting said frame and platform members at a height above a surface permitting a man standing thereon to stack materials flowing from the conveyor without undue effort at levels above those conveniently reached from the surface, said platform members being adapted to pivot into the raised position above said frame when use of the platform is not desired. 4. A folding platform for facilitating the stacking of materials'delivered by a portable conveyor comprising a frame, means for attaching said frame to a conveyor, an inner platform member pivotally mounted on said frame and extending outwardly therefrom, hinge fingers protruding from an outer edge of said inner platform member, a leg hinge member having legs extending therefrom, an outer platform member with hinge fingers along an edge thereof, said inner and outer platform member hinge fingers and said leg hinge member being pivotally joined by ahinge pin eccentrically located with respect to the pivoting platform members and joining said inner and outer platform members and leg hinge member such that when said outer platform member extends horizontally outwardly from said inner platform member said leg hinge member is rigidly held in a vertical supporting position, said eccentric' hinge pin allowing said inner and outer platform members to befolded into raised, parallel juxtaposition With said legs, and means complementing said legs supporting said frame and platform members at a height above a surface permitting a man standing thereon to stack materials flowing from the conveyor without undue effort at levels above those conveniently reached from the surface, said platform members being adapted to pivot into the raised position above said frame when use of the platform is not desired.

5. A folding platform for facilitating the stacking of materials delivered by a portable conveyor comprising a frame, means for attaching said frame to a conveyor, means portably supporting said frame, an inner platform member pivotally mounted on said frame and extending outwardly therefrom, hinge fingers protruding from an outer edge of said inner platform member, a leg hinge member having legs ext-ending therefrom, an outer platform member with hinge fingers along an edge thereof, said inner and outer platform member hinge fingers and said leg hinge member being pivotally joined by a hinge pin eccentrically located with respect to the pivoting platform members and joining said inner and outer platform members and leg hinge member such that when said outer platform member extends horizontally outwardly from said inner platform member said leg hinge member is rigidly held in a vertical supporting position, said eccentric hinge pin allowing said inner and outer platform members to be folded into raised parallel justaposition with said legs, legs along an outer edge of said outer platform member, said frame and platform members being supported at a height permitting a man standing thereon to stack materials flowing from the conveyor Without undue effort at levels above those conveniently reached from a working surface, said platform members being adapted to pivot into the raised position above said frame, said portable supporting means supporting said frame and folded platform members thereby permitting movement of the platform with the portable conveyor While attached thereto.

6. A folding platform for facilitating the stacking of materials delivered by a portable conveyor comprising a tubular frame, means for attaching said frame to a conveyor, means portably supporting said frame, spaced cylindrical rotatable sleeves positioned on said frame, an inner platform member attached to said sleeves so as to be pivotally disposed with relation to said frame and extending outwardly therefrom in an open position, hinge fingers protruding from an outer edge of said inner platform member, a leg hinge member having legs extending therefrom, an outer platform member with hinge fingers. along an edge thereof, said inner and outer platform member hinge fingers and said leg hinge member being pivotally joined by a hinge pin eccentrically located with respect to the pivoting platform members and joining said inner and outer platform members and leg hinge member such that when said outer platform member extends horizontally outwardly from said inner platform member said leg hinge memberis rigidly held in a vertical supporting position, said eccentric hinge pin allowing said inner and outer platform members to be folded into raised parallel juxtaposition with said legs, legs along an outer edge of said outer platform member, said frame and platform members being supported at a height permitting a man .standing thereon :to stack materials flowing from the conveyor without undue effort at levels above those conveniently reached from a working surface, said platform members being adapted to pivot into the riased position above said frame, said portable supporting means supporting said frame and folded platform members thereby permitting movement of the platform with the portable conveyor while attached thereto.

7. An apparatus for facilitating the stacking of materialsdelivered bya portable conveyor comprising a contoured slide, means for attaching said slide to the delivery end of the conveyor so as .to extend therefrom in alignment with the conveyor, a tubular. frame, means for attaching said frame to the conveyor below said slide attaching means such that substantially the whole of said frame is located beneath the conveyor and said slide, said frame attaching means including a pivotal arrangement to permit relative rotation of said frame to the conveyor in a vertical plane, means for portably supporting said frame, means permitting support of said frame solely by said conveyor and slide, spaced cylindrical rotatable sleeves positioned on said frame, a rectangular tubular-framed inner platform member attached to said sleeves so as to be pivotally disposed with relation to said frame and extending horizontally therefrom in an open position, hinge fingers protruding from an outer edge of said inner platform member, a concavely grooved leg hinge member having legs extending therefrom, a rectangular tubular-framed outer platform member with hinge fingers along an edge thereof, said inner and outer platform member hinge fingers and said leg hinge member being pivotally joined by a hinge pin eccentrically located with respect to the pivoting platform members and joining said inner and outer platform members and leg hinge member such that when said outer platform member extends horizontally outwardly from said inner platform member said leg hinge member is rigidly held in a vertical supporting position by coaction of the concave grooves of said leg hinge member with the tubular frames of the inner and outer platform members, said eccentric hinge pin allowing said inner and outer platform members to be folded into raised parallel juxtaposition with said legs, legs along an outer edge of said outer platform member, said frame and platform members being supported at a height permitting a man standing thereon to stack materials flowing from the conveyor without undue effort at levels above those conveniently reached from a working surface, and said platform members being adapted to pivot into the raised position above said frame.

8. An apparatus for facilitating the stacking of materials delivered by a portable conveyor comprising a contoured slide, means for attaching said slide to the delivery end of the conveyor so as to extend therefrom in alignment with the conveyor, a tubular U-frame, means attaching said U-frame along the bottom of the U to the conveyor below said slide attaching means such that substantially the whole of said U-frame is located beneath the conveyor and said slide in alignment with said slide, said pivotal connecting means permitting rotation of said frame relative to the conveyor in a vertical plane, a bracing member extending across said U-frame near the open end thereof, wheels rotatably positioned below said bracing member thereby supporting said U-frame in conjunction with said pivotal connecting means, spaced cylindrical rotatable sleeves positioned on said U-frame, a rectangular tubular-framed inner platform member attached to said sleeves so as to be pivotally disposed with relation to said U-frame and extending horizontally therefrom in an open position, hinge fingers protruding from an outer edge of said inner platform member, a concavely grooved leg hinge member having legs extending therefrom, a rectangular tubular-framed outer platform member with hinge fingers along an edge thereof, said inner and outer platform member hinge fingers and said leg hinge member being pivotally joined by a hinge pin eccentrically located with respect to the pivoting platform members and joining said inner and outer platform members and leg hinge member such that when said outer platform member extends horizontally outwardly from said inner platform member said leg hinge member is rigidly held in a vertical supporting position by coaction of the concave grooves of said leg hinge member with the tubular frames of the inner and outer platform members, said eccentric hinge pin allowing said inner and outer platform members to be folded into raised parallel juxtaposition with said legs, legs along an outer edge of said outer platform member, said U- frame and platform members being supported by said wheels, legs, and pivotal connecting means at a height permitting a man standing thereon to stack materials flowing from the conveyor without undue effort at levels above those conveniently reached from a working surface, and said platform members being adapted to pivot into the raised position above said U-frame.

9. An apparatus as described in claim 8, said bracing member including an inclined support positioned to coact with said folded parallel platform members whereby said folded parallel platform members are stably supported thereupon when pivoted into the raised position above said U-frame.

10. An apparatus as described in claim 9, including means suspending said U-frame and folded platform member from the conveyor and said slide, said U-frame being vertically pivoted on said pivotal connecting means thereby obviating the support of said wheels.

11. Apparatus for facilitating the handling of materials, comprising a portable conveyor, a folding platform extending from said conveyor and secured thereto, .said folding platform comprising a frame, an inner platform member pivotally mounted on said frame, an outer platform member extending from said inner platform member and hingedly connected thereto, and means supporting said frame and platform members at a height above a surface permitting a man standing thereon to stack materials flowing from the conveyor Without undue effort at levels above those conveniently reached from the surface, said platform members being adapted to fold into a position above said frame when use of the platform is not desired.

12. Apparatus for facilitating the handling of materials, comprising a portable conveyor,..a folding platform extending from said conveyor and secured thereto, said folding platform comprising a frame, an inner platform member pivotally mounted on said frame extending outward- 1y therefrom, an outer platform member extending outwardly from said inner platform member, means hingedly connecting said inner with said outer platform member so as to permit folding said platform members into raised parallel juxtaposition, and means supporting said frame and platform members at a height above a surface permitting a man standing thereon to stack materials flowing from the conveyor without undue effort at levels above those conveniently reached from the surface, said platform members being adapted to pivot into the raised position above said frame when use of the platform is not desired.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 760,634 Lanpher May 24, 1904 2,798,732 Craig July 9, 1957 2,872,252 Konkle Feb. 3, 1959 

